Missouri e-mail flap: Gov. Blunt’s ex-chief has memory lapse
Martin
One of the interesting details about the recent depositions in the ongoing dispute over access to the e-mails of Gov. Matt Blunt’s administration is this: Former chief of staff Ed Martin seems to have a bit of a memory problem.
As Jo Mannies reported on the mother ship today, various Blunt officials have given contradictory testimony in depositions. But it’s hard to call Martin’s testimony contradictory. Rather, he doesn’t remember much.
In a deposition last Friday taken by Louis Leonatti, one of two special attorneys general investigating alleged Sunshine Law violations in Blunt’s office, Martin uses the phrase “I don’t recall” 48 times. He also uses other variations of the phrase several times, including “I can’t recall,” “I don’t remember,” and “I can’t remember.”
The memories of the lower-level employees concerning Martin, however, are pretty firm. Why? Several computer technicians who worked in the Office of Administration were so concerned with Martin’s behavior around the time of the e-mail dust-up last fall, that they kept a log of their contact with him. The log, several pages long, is now an exhibit in the case.
At one point, according to the log, and e-mails from Martin (also an exhibit in the case), the former chief of staff thought that somebody had broken into his e-mail and started spamming him. He suspected Planned Parenthood and asked a computer technician to notify the FBI if he was able to determine who the culprit might be. The computer technician declined.
Ronald Regan he ain’t…
And people care because? I don’t trust anything that Jo Mannies “reports” - or should I call her STL Chapter Head of Code Pink? Where did that story go? This whole situation is ridiculous a waste of time. The witch hunt by the PD and other MO papers is bordering on the absurd. The liberal bias of this rag is appalling - even more appalling is the fact that there’s no attempt to hide it!
Greg, this isn’t a case of liberal bias in the media. It is a case of the Blunt Administration breaking the law. Emails on government accounts are public record, and they admitted to deleting them. This is the electronic equivalent of shredding government records. This is news,and it would be wrong NOT to investigate this.
And lay off of Jo - she has nothing to do with Code Pink. Someone happened to steal her name tag and pose as her for a few minutes. The story was reported - by Jo herself - and that was all there was to it. It went nowhere because it had nowhere to go. If you want to complain about her reporting, talk about her reporting, not some irrelevant mishap.
Greg, you don’t get that this case can affect the heart of our democracy. And it centers around Mr. Blunt’s view that the Governor is exempt from the law. Fine. Don’t believe the media. Go get a copy of the motions to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the fired attorney against his former boss the Governor and some of his aides. ANY ..and I mean ANY elected official who claims to be above the law is much more scary than any reporter or group of reporters. THAT’S why people care Greg.
What a sleazey man.
Wait’ll you see what’s in the e-mails. You’ll see why they’ve been so resistant to release them. Best joke Missouri has had since electing the dead guy …
The blog post reads as thought this “low level” computer technician either was able to identify someone who broke into the computer and refused to turn that person in or he/she refused to find out what happened. Either way I hope our tax dollars are not supporting this person any longer. They deserved to be fired.
Tony, I realize this is you story, but Dan Ross identified in Jo’s story is not a low level computer tech, Dan Ross before being appointed to OA Head IT position was Blunt’s Chief of Staff at the Secretary of State’s Office. He is very credible and close (used to be) to the Blunt Admin. Him saying no to Martin and crew isn’t just some bureaucrat, he has relationships with these people. Do your homework.
It worked for Reagan, so Martin does it, too!
I still want the early e-mails where Blunt, his brother Andy and Martin gave all the regulated industries in Missouri their habd-picked choices to run all state regulsatory agencies, and got campaign cash—then we’ll see some people go to jail where they belong, and the Missouri GOP on the ash heap of history where they belong!
I wasnt in the area when Billary I and II ran off some form of “I dont recall” over 250 times during investigations, what was the collective response from the Post Disgrace “editorial staff”. Although this has nothing to do with Blunt, it does provide a degree of perspective.